HP Nx9600 Hardware and Software Guide - Page 157

Communications Wireless Local Area Network With the 802.11 wireless device, you can access a wireless local area network (WLAN), which is composed of other computers and accessories linked by a wireless router or a wireless access point. ■ A large scale WLAN, such as a corporate WLAN or public WLAN hotspot, typically use wireless access points, that can handle a large number of computers and accessories and can separate critical network functions. ■ A home or small office WLAN typically uses a wireless router, which enables several wireless and wired computers to share an Internet connection, a printer, and files without additional pieces of hardware or software. Wireless access point and wireless router are often used interchangeably. Notebooks with 802.11 WLAN devices may support one or more of 3 IEEE physical layer standards: ■ 802.11a ■ 802.11b ■ 802.11g There are 3 popular implementations of WLAN adapters: ■ 802.11b only ■ 802.11b/g ■ 802.11a/b/g 802.11b, the first popular WLAN standard, supports data rates of up to 11 Mbps and operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. 802.11g, which came later, also operates at 2.4 GHz but supports data rates of up to 54 Mbps. An 802.11g WLAN device is backward compatible with 802.11b devices, so they can operate on the same network. 802.11a supports data rates of up to 54 Mbps but operates at a frequency of 5 GHz. 802.11a is not compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g. For information on identifying the type of device in your notebook, refer to the "Identifying a WLAN Device," later in this chapter. Hardware and Software Guide 8-7